You don’t need to tell me a secret that maybe you covet as to how you work—I have a couple I’ll probably never share. But I wonder how other writers “start” their new books. From the germ of an idea before you get to Chapter one and/or the first word, how do you get it going?

I guess what I want to know is how you know “what” you’re going to write next from the genre or sub-genre to how you decide on who’s who in the book. How thought-out a process do you go through when you’re on to the next book? Or do you already have several story ideas in the queue so you’re just waiting for the time?

After I got my cozy done and out the door, I pulled open a couple of manuscripts I’ve been working on a for a while—this is where my lack of plotter really curses my arse. When I get stuck, the book will often just sit. And while I may tweak a word here and there, I don’t make great progress. As is the case with the two books from a while ago. So naturally, I decided to start from scratch hoping that would start the mental juices flowing. Silly me thinking it would be so easy. I literally stared at a blank word doc page for days. Not a darn thing was coming to me. I would never call it writer’s block as I wasn’t writing anything. Hell, I didn’t know *what* I wanted to write.

Then luckily, in small, slow bits it came to me. I got the idea for the heroine. The hero was a little more illusive but he did finally gel into a tangible character and after doing a phone consult with my BFF, I hammered out as much of the plot as I am comfortable doing. But I have to tell you, it was a few scary days when my mind was totally blank.

I guess if this question was asked of me, my answer would be… “it just came to me”. That’s so not helpful is it. (and a wee bit scary that that was how my process worked this time around.) I’m not going to knock it, and lets cross fingers I can actually get this book moving along … my ADD has been so high the past few months it’s really sad. Anyhoo, is that how it works for you too, just comes to you, or do you have a dedicated process you go through?

It is amazing that pretty much the only thing my boys will share is germs. Geez-Louise. It’s been a rough week—though I suppose at least they had the courtesy of waiting a day or two between each sick person. It has left me a little tired and cranky, and given that I am usually tired and cranky, I am just a little more peevish than normal this week. I believe I did threaten the spouse with shears and dismemberment at one point. He just smiled and walked away—while looking over his shoulder a little.

As this is germ central (and finally getting better—of course the youngest who started all this was outside all day over the weekend because he’s back to normal) I have gotten very little done in the way of writing. I have been reading though—amazing amounts of downtime between bouts of “mo-om”… Reading is something I wanted to get more of done this year, so knockwood it’s going well. (And I received a lovely box of books in the mail today to read for a contest—I like books )

Anyhoo… not *really* trying to gripe, or have over-much to say, just letting you know what I’ve been up to (or not up to) since we last met, on the computer. I will crawl back into my rest-hole and curl up with my books and hope that my tummy ache is stress-related and not the next virus-victim in the McDHouse. Y’all have a good week and carry on ~

It's a new year, new beginnings, but—same school year. I guess after all the years I was in school and now that my kids are in school, it always seems strange to me to make resolutions during Christmas break. They go back to the same school, same classes and teachers so it doesn't seem like anything is "new" per se. The only "new" things besides the kids Christmas gifts... I found a couple of new wrinkles around my eyes this morning ... and yes, I count them just like I do with the freckles on my youngest. If you have freckles you may understand this—my face (well, most of me) is covered in them. I started getting them when I was 7 and I have hated them ever since. My three oldest boys, when they passed the age of 7, then 8 I left them alone—only a handful between the bunch. My youngest now 10, though, has a smattering more, but not as many as I do—thank goodness. He does have one smack on the tip of his nose—kinda cute.... but oh how I digress...

I don't make resolutions, because as I've said on here before, I tend to balk at being told/suggested what to do even if it's by me. I am my own worst enemy for resolutions. I don't know why. Maybe the pressure is too great. Maybe I am just weird... So the new year doesn't bring in this need to make right what the year before didn't accomplish. Don't get me wrong, I do always strive to do and be better. And I do set goals, but they tend to be a right here and now goal. Day by day sometimes minute by minute.

By my weird one day goal, I will say that over the holiday I finished up a manuscript I'd been working on (it's a Cozy mystery, in first person no less... something a *little* out of the box for me) and I sent that puppy out to a Publisher. We'll see what happens and I will keep you posted on the progress. All of that was with one day goals. Write X-amount today. Most of the days I did. Some I went way over. Some I only got a sentence or two, but I got through it.

So I am not going to ask you to tell me what resolutions you came up with for 2012. I will, however, challenge you to make daily goals. Even if they're small. It amazed me how much I got done in little bits (and let me remind you, two weeks of that time was with the kids home—4 boys are *not* quiet!). But ... if you have goals that already work for you... go for it. See how much you can get done in 2012.

Still, it is a new year. 2011 is gone and done. I hope that 2012 is most productive for you all!